Under the influence

Best album I have heard in months.  Incredible lyrics.  What a comeback after two albums of garbage.  Eminem is hands down the best rapper of all time.  Drake is a piece of shit.  What a bunch of crap...

My entire life, I have been influenced by the people that surround me.  Growing up, I looked up to my cousins and always thought of them as my role models.  They taught me things I shouldn't have learned as a youngster and put me way ahead of the game in terms of street smarts.  At the same time, my parents instilled in me the values I still carry today.  For the most part.  I had the balance of stability in my family as well as the spontaneity learned from my cousins.  Everything I did then was heavily influenced by them.  It wasn't until my first years of college that I began to establish myself as my own person.

I was no longer in high school trying to fit in.  I was not vying for most popular, most athletic, class clown, or any other title.  There was no one left to compete with but myself.  It was time to move on.  Time to work on myself. 

College opened me eyes to different things.  I began to develop my own philosophies on life and I spent a lot of time looking at who I was.  For the first time in my life, I was learning to think for myself.  It wasn't just things that I learned in the classroom that made me change.  It was the entire college experience.  I went through many phases as an adolescent and teen, but I finally began the era in my life where I felt comfortable in my own skin.

Why am I telling you this?  Because people recently have tried to force their values and beliefs onto me.  I am just starting to realize what I believe in so do not try and challenge me or try to discredit my views.  I would not do the same to you.  To your face at least.

Tomorrow, jurors may or may not start the deliberation process in the Johannes Mehserle case.  Murder one is now off the table.  There has been speculation that if the trial reaches a verdict other than murder, there is a possibility of a riot in Oakland.  Most likely near the Fruitvale station where Mehserle shot Oscar Grant.  A station where I pass by everyday to get to work.  Fearing a riot, my aunt and I may or may not work from home in the coming days.  

The past few days my aunt had been complaining about how much publicity this story is getting.  She was upset because a few months earlier a Chinese man was shot to death by an officer and that story was never heard of again after a few weeks.  She suggested that it was unfair the media covers mainly racism and police discrimination towards blacks.

First of all, the black community is more vocal.  There is no arguing that they are more likely to organize and protest anything and everything.  Therefore, it's no surprise they receive more media attention.  They have appointed leaders like Jesse Jackson who wags his finger at the white man and gets results.  Secondly, the system is broken.  There is always more appeal in current times to depict the black man as the victim.  If you've ever seen any of the earlier episodes of "Cops", most if not all of the criminals were black.  Simply put, the Asian community just does not have the same pull as blacks. 

The news of this case is not new to anyone, however.  Accidents happen.  It was not a case of police brutality or racism.  It truly is a reach for the Grant family and supporters to ask for any murder charges against Mehserle.  Hopefully the verdict will be manslaughter and there is no civil unrest.  The way I see it, this is a case that will perpetuate racism regardless of the verdict.  If Mehserle gets manslaughter, the blacks will protest saying the judicial system favors whites.  On the other hand, if Mehserle is charged with murder, it will probably be seen by most as an unfit punishment for the crime. Whites could say that the white guilt has taken over and blacks are starting to run the show.  There is no good outcome. 

My aunt keeps telling me crap I just don't want to hear.  The only thing I hate more than racism (jokes aside), is self-righteous remarks.  I am always open to listening to other people's views, but there's a line between listening and being forced to agree.  You can tell me how you feel but don't follow up every opinion with, "Right?" or "Don't you agree?"  I have my own thoughts that I might want to express but your hard-headedness leaves no room for opinion.  So stop it.

On a completely different topic.  I am sculpting my body into the exact image of a Greek God.  I've been blasting my pecs with at least 80 push ups a day for the past month.  I started on the first of June and have only missed three days (four if you include one due to injury).  What's the routine you ask?  Thirty regular push ups, followed by 15 inside, 10 diamond, and 30 outside.  That's one set I complete with less than 30 seconds between each variation.  I usually do one to two sets a day depending on how my body is feeling. When my arm gets better I'm going to up the ante to three sets a day. 

Chadwick, watch yo back.  I will match you at your own challenge.  *Flex flex*

Until next time,

The only King without a mustache is the King of Hearts.

-Thunderlips

No words.

Mo' Monae, Mo' bloggin'

Listen to it.  Now.  It will blow your mind.  Turns out the album I downloaded a few weeks ago wasn't the actual album released.  About half of the tracks were "fake".  Even so, I enjoyed the album very much.  After hearing the real version, I'm only more impressed.  This is a great album from a very talented artist.  Much love for Monae and her awesome afro/pompadour (she calls it "The Monae").

As you may have noticed, I haven't been blogging.  Why?  Superstition.  The Sharks were doing well and I didn't want anything to change.  They still lost.  My playoff beard is no more and holds a record of 6-5.  Next year I'll start it from the get-go.  And of course, they'll make it to the playoffs.

Last night I got take out from Americana.  I ordered a rib eye steak since they were out of the T-bone and a large pizza cheese steak with fries for lunch today.  I brought the sandwich in my usual Tupperware and put it in my usual spot in the refrigerator.  Even at 1:30 I wasn't very hungry so I decided to just eat half.  I left half of my sandwich and fries in my Tupperware and wrapped it in a plastic bag and put it back in the refrigerator. 

When I came back at 5, my Tupperware was missing from the refrigerator.  I looked around the area and found it sitting on top of the refrigerator.  It was empty.  Someone ate my sandwich.  Or threw it away.  Equally unacceptable.  That half sandwich was worth almost $6.  That's almost as much as a whole sandwich at most places!  I'm going to write a letter to building security about securing my godamn sandwiches.  Someone owes me $6 and I'm willing to take them to small claims court.  Don't think I won't do it!




My sandwich?! MY SANDWICH?! MY SANDWICH?!  I hate work people. 

Quick update on everything in my life:

Work has been work.  I thought I was going to get fired a few weeks ago since my boss had repeatedly been on me about my effort.  She ended up giving me more assignments which, of course, means I can't get fired yet.  Good news for me.  I need the money.  Today I also found out that I have been approved for the use of Microsoft Communicator and Live Meeting.  I think with these two programs I'll be able to go on AIM again. 

If you haven't heard, the bird is the word.  Also, I got into graduate school so hooray for me I guess.  Even though I got accepted, I'm not sure this is what I want to do.  But, I figure I'll get the degree regardless and see if I can grow into it.  Worst case scenario, I graduate (actually not graduating and failing out of the program would be worst case scenario) and work a few years in a manager's position making close to or above $100,000.  The degree will pay for itself in a year or two.


Classes meet twice a week and the program was intended for those who are employed full time.  This means I'll get to continue to work (if they renew my contract after December) and go to school.  But it also means most of my time will be taken up.  If they let me go after December, I'm going to take more classes and just enjoy being a student again.  Debate club/team, beginning ice hockey classes, and who knows what else.  It will be magical. If my contract does get extended, it will be less magical but mo' money. 

So, in a nutshell, that's been my life lately.  How have you been?

Until next time,

A jiffy is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

-Alex Thunderlips

Let's get musical.

Reading Chad's post about goals made me think a lot about how I've been spending my time lately.  I haven't been able to come up with any new goal that I haven't already failed at multiple times (exercising regularly, cleaning my room, getting my scooter, etc.).  But coming out of the shower just now, I thought of some very compelling lyrics to a song I would like to write.  The only thing is, I don't know how to play a musical instrument.  So, for the next two weeks, I plan to pick up my guitar again and try to write my song.  To make my goal easier and more realistic, I've set the bar at 15 minutes of practice everyday.  Yes, I know.  This will probably end up on my list of failed accomplishments but it's nice to dream. 

I do my best thinking in the shower.  It's the only place I can go and really just forget about everything else.  That, and just sitting in my room singing loudly to throwbacks like this:



This song is somewhere on my "Top 5 Rock Songs of All time" along with:



Have fun rocking out to some of my favorite jams of all time.

Until next time,

A fetus that is four months old will become startled and turn away if a light is flashed on a mother's stomach. 

-Alex Thunderlips

Board of life.

While reading the Sunday paper last week, I came across an ad for a local store in San Francisco called Gamescape.  This store is said to have one of the most extensive collection of board games available.  I'm itching to go check out their store.  I <3 board games...  It's the nerd in me, which is all of me.  To make it even cooler, they team up with this cafe across the street every Wednesday evening to host board game nights.  I want to go but I'm not sure if anyone would go with me.  I've been asking around and people sound skeptical.  Someone go with me!  This could be the beginning of finding things to do in San Francisco that does not involve alcohol although it wouldn't be considered nightlife since it runs from 6 to 10.  I hope they have pog events.

Friday night I went to the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium to watch Conan O'Brien in his stand up tour Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour.  In all honesty, the opening act by Reggie Watts completely put Conan's performance to shame.  Don't get me wrong.  Conan was good, but Reggie Watts had some gut-busting jokes.  A lot of the material that Conan had planned didn't pan out, but he really shined when interacting with the audience and just being himself.  Most of the scripted portions were predictable but still funny.  Some of the show was meant to be nostalgic with the reintroduction of familiar skits and characters of the Late Night and Tonight show.  Overall a good show.  7/10

I'm having doubts about the playoff beard.  It's beginning to be a burden.  At this point it's very patchy but, at the same time, very long.  When I eat, my 'stache is going in my mouth from the sides and into my nose at the top.  Not exactly a comfortable situation.  Since the Sharks are one break I've been thinking about shaving it and just doing a playoff beard per round and just cycle as the rounds go.  Of course there have been objections since it holds a 2-0 record. 

Out of material.  End.

Until next time,

Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger has son named Tony Jr., a daughter named Antoinette, and a wife that were used in early advertising commercials.

-Alex Thunderlips